Leica revives a legendary 1960s military lens with a 66mm limited edition

Leica is bringing back a rare piece of photographic history with the limited-edition Summicron-M 66 f/2, a modern tribute to a lens created for the U.S. Navy in the 1960s.

The original Elcan 66mm f/2 had a production run of only 200 units and ranks among the rarest lenses made for Leica’s M system. Leica used its optical design as the basis for the new lens, updating it to meet modern standards while introducing the company’s distinctive 66mm focal length to a broader group of photographers.

The 66mm view sits between a standard 50mm lens and a longer portrait focal length. Leica says it provides natural perspective with a slight compression effect. The f/2 aperture is designed to deliver the brand’s characteristic rendering, combining soft bokeh with high contrast, while stopping down allows the lens to resolve fine detail at high resolution.

The body recreates features of the original. The front ring carries a special serial number, the optical calculation number B1047 and a 12-digit internal material number. The original “Elcan” marking, which identified Canadian Leica, has been replaced with “Leitz Wetzlar.” The aperture ring turns in the opposite direction from standard M lenses, and the distance scale follows military specifications.

Leica is offering 660 units worldwide through its stores, online store and authorized dealers. The recommended price is 358,247 Taiwan dollars.